VILLAGERS are still waiting for a road to be reopened after it was blocked by a landslip 12 months ago.

A landslip shut the C68, the main east route out of Uploders in February 2016. The road has remain closed while Dorset County Council continues to have discussions with a landowner.

Cllr Ron Coastworth, who represents the Bride Valley on Dorset County Council, said he was "very concerned" that the road has not yet been reopened.

He said: "It cannot be repaired without going onto the private land.

"The responsibility of going onto the private land belongs to the person that owns it and it has not been done by the landowner."

During last year's winter storms, the road collapsed as trees on the bank had not been cut, according to Cllr Coastsworth.

He added: "It really is absolutely outrageous that it has gone on for so long.

"It has got to the stage where we have got to almost 12 months.

"I used to go along that road to get between the different parishes, but now I have to go along the main road. I know every road in this area but you cannot expect most people to be able to get around without this route.

"The county council has refused to do anymore that I have suggested. The moment has come where if I don't get anymore change, I will ask questions in the council chamber. It is a case of getting enough push to get it done."

He added: "It's down to a lack of cash. There's plenty of places where the county council could spend £300,000 on a bank that has come down, but places on private land don't get done. Things have been in abeyance over Christmas and New Year, but now we need to get on with things."

Villagers have labelled the closure "a real nuisance".

Sarah Tempany said: "It really does make us feel a bit cut off.

"It's been a real nuisance that it has been closed for so long. Hopefully there can be an agreement and it will be reopened soon."

Keith Holton added: "We are clearly bottom of a very long list of things to be done by the council.

"I think it's the fact this has just been left for so long upsets people in the village."

John Burridge, Dorset Highways bridge management chief engineer, said: “The C68 to the east of Uploders village has been closed since February 2016 following a landslide on private land next to the highway. This made the road unsafe for vehicles.

“As the responsibility for repairing the bank lies with the landowner and there has been no progress in resolving the problems, we are now investigating a solution which re-aligns the existing road away from the landslip. We appreciate that local residents are being significantly inconvenienced by the road closure, but unfortunately investigations into possible solutions and negotiations with landowners do take time.

“We will continue to keep the local parish council and the county council member for Bride Valley, Councillor Ronald Coatsworth, informed of progress.”